Massachusetts: A 17-year-old Indian-origin boy has been taken into custody in Massachusetts, US, after allegedly killing his mother and younger brother at their family home in Acton.
The accused, identified as Acton resident Arjun Aravind, faces two murder charges. He has also been charged with two counts each of assault and battery on a household or family member and assault and battery, besides charges related to the unauthorised use and theft of a motor vehicle, officials said, according to news agency PTI.
Arjun is accused of killing his 14-year-old brother, Siddharth Aravind, and his mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, on Tuesday before leaving the house.
Police officers found both victims with “obvious trauma”. However, the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet determined the precise cause or manner of their deaths. Investigators are also working to establish what weapon, if any, was used in the alleged killings.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Acton Police Chief Douglas Sturniolo said the deaths took place inside the family’s home on Martha Lane in Acton, located nearly 48 km from Boston.
Unanswered Calls Lead To Grim Discovery
The double homicide was discovered after Arjun’s father could not contact his family at the residence on August 11. He then informed the police, prompting officers to go to the residence.
The father had spoken to his wife, Sudha, earlier that morning before leaving for work. Siddharth was reportedly last seen at around noon.
A tutor who was scheduled to visit the house later tried to contact the family but received no response.
When police entered the home, they found Siddharth on the first floor and Sudha in the basement. Both had died from injuries that officials described as “obvious trauma”.
Arjun was not present at the property when officers arrived. Police said he had allegedly left the house in his mother’s car, leading investigators to issue an alert to law enforcement agencies in the area and ask the public to remain watchful.
Police Trace Accused In Mother’s Car
Authorities launched a search for Arjun after discovering that he was missing from the residence and that his mother’s vehicle had also disappeared.
The investigation moved forward when officers in Wayland responded to an unrelated alarm at a parking lot. During the response, they located the vehicle and found Arjun inside it.
He was arrested without incident, officials said. Police did not disclose whether he offered any explanation at the time of his arrest.
The teenager was subsequently held in connection with the deaths of his mother and brother. Prosecutors are expected to present the allegations in court as the investigation continues.
ChatGPT Searches Raise Concern
Investigators also found evidence that Arjun had allegedly been exhibiting disturbing behaviour before the incident.
According to a statement issued by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, he had used the internet and ChatGPT to look for “theoretical ideas or fantasies regarding killing his family”.
“The subsequent investigation indicates that Arjun had recently been demonstrating concerning behaviour, including using the internet and ChatGPT to make searches for theoretical ideas or fantasies regarding killing his family,” the statement said.
Arjun was due to be appear in Lowell Juvenile Court on Wednesday, local time. Since the Juvenile Court does not have jurisdiction over a murder charge, he will face the murder and related assault charges later in Concord District Court.
